Summary: Suppose Johnny's hand was examined and healed by a doctor soon
after his accident. Would this lead him off to take the path of a Tory,
loyal to the king?
Disclaimer- Esther Forbes owns all the characters in this fan fiction.
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* excerpt from Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
*
"Look sharp, Johnny."
"Hey, boy, look sharp."
Giggles. A low whistle.
Johnny said nothing.
*
_________________
Chapter I: THE OFFER
Johnny never knew how good food tasted until then. He was starving, and Mr. Hancock's generous contribution was quickly being spent to satisfy his hunger. He was in the middle of eating his fill when suddenly, the aroma of something he distinctly sweet caught his breath, and he raised his left hand (right hand still in pocket) as he asked for the waitress for 'something of that', which he guessed to be chocolate.
"Ma'am, some chocolate here pl-" started Johnny, but he never finished as there was a loud CRASH when one of the serving girls who looked to be about Cilla's age accidentally dropped a plate of warm stew on a man.
The man, a sailor who had just come back from one of his numerous sea voyages cursed loudly and started yelling noisily at the girl. Johnny, though, got up instinctively with both hands out, intent on helping with the situation as he was suddenly reminded of Cilla.
But before he could help, a tall soldier in full uniform forcefully blocked his way.
"May I have a word with you?" he asked in a surprisingly courteous tone.
And before he could allow the boy to answer, the soldier commented, " I see that you have quite a boatful of money there."
Surprised by the sudden rudeness of the officer, Johnny shot back, "The money wasn't stolen. It was a GIFT, sir."
"Ah," commented the officer once again. "I just couldn't help but notice that you were always keeping your right hand hidden. Supposedly…"
"My hand was burnt… SIR." Johnny added spitefully.
Any mention about his hand was a rather touchy subject with Johnny- as that fateful Sunday was his downfall from becoming a silversmith. The soldier reddened immediately but fortunately checked himself and tried to ignore that last statement the clearly arrogant boy had made.
"What I'm trying to say, boy, is that I might be able to help… You see-"s
"…Help?" asked Johnny suspiciously.
"Yes," the officer replied." My father was a well-established doctor, and I learned a few skills from him before I turned soldier." He sat down.
"What I'm requesting, lad, is a deal."
He stared hard at Johnny for a second, before saying, "Say- oh, just say that I might be able to fix your hand up nice and good as gold for you. BUT… but, I ask for something in return, of course. You see, the army's looking for honest, good-to-the-truth boys who'll work hard and are loyal to their rightful country."
"Our England, of course," he added after a moment. Johnny rolled his eyes but nodded, and asked, "So you will fix my hand in return for my service?"
"That's the agreement," the immediate reply was.
Johnny considered this for a second. His hand being useful again was about everything that mattered to him at the moment. He knew that he could simply ask other doctors to heal it for him- but they would ask questions. And this particular soldier in front of him didn't.
"Yes… sir."
"Good." The man smiled. "Lad, welcome to his Majesty's Armed Forces. You're with the army from now on."
Disclaimer- Esther Forbes owns all the characters in this fan fiction.
_________________
* excerpt from Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
*
"Look sharp, Johnny."
"Hey, boy, look sharp."
Giggles. A low whistle.
Johnny said nothing.
*
_________________
Chapter I: THE OFFER
Johnny never knew how good food tasted until then. He was starving, and Mr. Hancock's generous contribution was quickly being spent to satisfy his hunger. He was in the middle of eating his fill when suddenly, the aroma of something he distinctly sweet caught his breath, and he raised his left hand (right hand still in pocket) as he asked for the waitress for 'something of that', which he guessed to be chocolate.
"Ma'am, some chocolate here pl-" started Johnny, but he never finished as there was a loud CRASH when one of the serving girls who looked to be about Cilla's age accidentally dropped a plate of warm stew on a man.
The man, a sailor who had just come back from one of his numerous sea voyages cursed loudly and started yelling noisily at the girl. Johnny, though, got up instinctively with both hands out, intent on helping with the situation as he was suddenly reminded of Cilla.
But before he could help, a tall soldier in full uniform forcefully blocked his way.
"May I have a word with you?" he asked in a surprisingly courteous tone.
And before he could allow the boy to answer, the soldier commented, " I see that you have quite a boatful of money there."
Surprised by the sudden rudeness of the officer, Johnny shot back, "The money wasn't stolen. It was a GIFT, sir."
"Ah," commented the officer once again. "I just couldn't help but notice that you were always keeping your right hand hidden. Supposedly…"
"My hand was burnt… SIR." Johnny added spitefully.
Any mention about his hand was a rather touchy subject with Johnny- as that fateful Sunday was his downfall from becoming a silversmith. The soldier reddened immediately but fortunately checked himself and tried to ignore that last statement the clearly arrogant boy had made.
"What I'm trying to say, boy, is that I might be able to help… You see-"s
"…Help?" asked Johnny suspiciously.
"Yes," the officer replied." My father was a well-established doctor, and I learned a few skills from him before I turned soldier." He sat down.
"What I'm requesting, lad, is a deal."
He stared hard at Johnny for a second, before saying, "Say- oh, just say that I might be able to fix your hand up nice and good as gold for you. BUT… but, I ask for something in return, of course. You see, the army's looking for honest, good-to-the-truth boys who'll work hard and are loyal to their rightful country."
"Our England, of course," he added after a moment. Johnny rolled his eyes but nodded, and asked, "So you will fix my hand in return for my service?"
"That's the agreement," the immediate reply was.
Johnny considered this for a second. His hand being useful again was about everything that mattered to him at the moment. He knew that he could simply ask other doctors to heal it for him- but they would ask questions. And this particular soldier in front of him didn't.
"Yes… sir."
"Good." The man smiled. "Lad, welcome to his Majesty's Armed Forces. You're with the army from now on."